Activation
Notifications
Validation
Did you come across an unfamiliar term while validating your software or while searching for other information? Use the Glossary to find definitions of common terms used on the Genuine Microsoft Software Web site.
Activation is an anti-piracy technology designed to verify that Microsoft® software products are genuine. Activation works by verifying that the product key—the 25-character code located on your Certificate of Authenticity (usually affixed to your computer) or proof of license label (usually affixed to the installation disc case)—is authentic and is not in use on more personal computers than are permitted by the software license.
An activation exploit is software that attempts to work around product activation. For instance, Windows Vista® and Windows 7® each include activation exploit detection technology. Once Windows detects an activation exploit, users will see notifications explaining how to remove or repair it, including links to more information and resources. Activation exploits are sometimes referred to as a “hack”, “crack”, or “breach”, are often downloaded from the Internet, and can potentially expose users to the risks of counterfeit, such as viruses, malware, Trojans, and spyware. Visit the Genuine Microsoft Software Research page for more information on the risks of counterfeit (English only).
ActiveX controls are components used by Internet Explorer®. These controls, or “add-ons”, enhance the browsing experience by allowing animation or helping with tasks such as installing security updates from Microsoft Update or validating genuine Microsoft® software. Learn more about ActiveX controls.
Automatic Updates can automatically keep your PC up-to-date with the latest updates and enhancements for Windows. Critical updates and information are delivered directly to the PC by Windows®, which recognizes when you are online and uses your Internet connection to search for downloads from Windows Update or from Microsoft Update. Learn more about Automatic Updates.
When Windows® running on a PC is not activated or is non-genuine, a persistent desktop notification will be shown on top of a black desktop background. The persistent desktop notification appears in the lower portion of the desktop and cannot be hidden with other items from the desktop. The plain black desktop can be changed to any wallpaper or to another solid background color, but it will be reset to black every 60 minutes by Windows. This helps make the persistent desktop notification clearly visible to remind the user that action is needed to resolve the issue. Throughout this experience, users have full and complete access to their PC, all programs, and all data; the functionality of the PC is not limited in any way. To fix this, validate Windows and as necessary, follow the instructions for resolution that appear on the validation results page.
A Certificate of Authenticity (COA) is a sticker or label that is often attached to the body of a computer or to the retail packaging and helps users identify genuine Microsoft® software. A COA is not a software license – it is a visual identifier that assists in determining whether or not the Microsoft software running on a PC is genuine. A COA should never be purchased by itself without the software it authenticates. Learn more about COAs.
Counterfeit software is the illegal duplication and sale of copyrighted material with the intent of directly imitating the copyrighted product. In the case of packaged software, it is common to find counterfeit copies of the CDs or diskettes incorporating the software programs, as well as related packaging, manuals, license agreements, labels, registration cards and security features.
The Microsoft® Download Center contains software updates, productivity downloads, and entertainment applications for Microsoft customer use. Some downloads are reserved exclusively for those users running genuine Microsoft software on their PCs and require a genuine Windows® or Office® validation check before downloading. In this case, you will see the genuine Microsoft software icon () next to the download’s name in the Download Center.
The Microsoft® EULA is a legal agreement between Microsoft and the end user of Microsoft software, with regard to the terms of use and transfer of the software. For instance, when installing Windows® or Office®, you will be asked to either accept or decline the EULA. If you choose to decline the EULA, however, the software will not install. View EULAs for software licensed to you by Microsoft or the computer manufacturer.
The end-user or end-customer group representing large organizations that Microsoft® engages in terms of sales and marketing activities for volume licensing. Some examples of enterprise customers are large organizations or government agencies.
Genuine Microsoft® software is published by Microsoft, properly licensed, and fully supported by Microsoft or a trusted partner. Using genuine Microsoft software offers you greater capabilities and easy integration with the widest variety of hardware, software, and services. It also provides confidence that you will receive the latest product features, updates, and ongoing improvements to keep your PC performing at its best.
The genuine Microsoft® software icon () is a blue and orange star that represents genuine Microsoft software and activation and validation technologies. You may see this icon within notifications relating to activation on your computer, for example, if Windows® has not yet been activated. You may also see this icon if a genuine Windows or Office® validation check is required before downloading optional updates in the Microsoft Download Center.
Microsoft® offers additional versions of Windows® and Office® products to meet regional requirements in some areas of the world. These versions are restricted for sale and use only in those geographical locations for which they were intended, and the packaging for these products clearly indicates that they are restricted and where they can be purchased and activated.
Activation is required to use Windows® and/or Office®; however, there is a grace period within which activation can be completed. For instance, Microsoft® software license terms allow you to use Windows and/or Office without activating for a 30 day grace period. Before the grace period expires, you will receive reminders to activate Windows.
The hardware ID is assigned by Microsoft® when Windows® or Office® is first installed. This unique identifier is used during activation and validation to identify the computer this product key will work with and to confirm that Windows and/or Office are genuine and not in use on more computers than allowed by the license terms. Microsoft values your privacy and does not use information collected during activation or validation to identify you or contact you. Read the Genuine Microsoft Privacy Statement.
The Microsoft®How to Tell Web site contains information about how to identify genuine Microsoft software. Use the site to learn more about what to look for before you buy, how to tell whether the software you’ve already purchased is genuine, and to report piracy if you’ve been a victim of counterfeit software.
Information technology (IT) professionals are executives, managers, or staff whose primary job position is in an IT or information services department.
A Key Management Service (KMS) key is associated with volume licensing. With KMS, information technology professionals can complete activations on their local network, eliminating the need for individual computers to connect to Microsoft® for product activation. KMS is a lightweight service that does not require a dedicated system and can easily be co-hosted on a system that provides other services. KMS can be used with Windows Server® 2003, Windows Vista®, Windows 7®, or the Windows Server 2008 R2 operating systems. By default, volume editions of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 connect to a system that hosts the KMS service to request activation. No action is required of the user. KMS requires a minimum number of computers (physical or VM) in a network environment. The organization must have at least 5 computers to activate Windows Server 2008 R2 and at least 25 computers to activate Windows 7 clients. For more about KMS, visit Microsoft’s Volume Licensing Service Center.
The Windows Genuine Advantage Kit and the Office Genuine Advantage Kit are available for purchase directly from Microsoft® and are cost-effective ways for you to get genuine Windows® or Office® if your PC has failed validation. The kits contain the same version of Windows and/or Office that’s already installed on your computer along with a product key that can be used to get genuine. To view available offers, validate Windows and/or Office. If your PC fails validation, you will be presented with kit purchase details as well as any other available local offers for getting genuine.
A software license grants permission to an end-user for the use of that software subject to the listed terms and conditions as part of the end-user license agreement (EULA).
Malicious software is typically used as a catch-all term to refer to any software designed to cause damage to a computer, server, or network. Common types of malicious software, or malware, include viruses, Trojan horses, spyware, and worms. Get more information from Microsoft’s Malware Protection Center.
A Multiple Activation Key (MAK) is associated with volume licensing. MAK is used for one-time activation with Microsoft’s hosted activation services. All volume editions of Windows® can use MAK (Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2). There are two ways to activate computers using MAK. The first method is MAK Independent activation, which requires that each computer independently connect and be activated with Microsoft® either over the Internet or by telephone. The second method is MAK Proxy activation. With this method, a computer acting as a MAK proxy gathers activation information from multiple computers on the network, and then sends a centralized activation request on their behalf. MAK proxy activation is configured using the Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT). For more about MAK, visit Microsoft’s Volume Licensing Service Center.
Windows® and/or Office® that is not activated or is non-genuine will generate notifications from time to time advising the user that Windows and/or Office may not be genuine and that the user may be a victim of counterfeit software. To fix this, click the genuine Microsoft® software icon () shown in the system tray and follow the steps indicated for resolution. You may also validate Windows and/or Office and follow the steps indicated for resolution.
Notifications appear to remind you if Windows® and/or Office® are not yet activated or may not be genuine. These notifications may appear when you first login to Windows or when you first start Office, and in the lower part of your desktop above the system tray. For specific information about notifications related to activation, visit the specific product’s page by clicking on the Products tab in the navigation and making your selection.
Office Genuine Advantage (OGA) Notifications is a program that helps Microsoft® to fight software piracy and helps to you validate that the copy of Office® installed on your PC is genuine. By confirming that your copy of Office is genuine, you can take advantage of all the capabilities, support, and continuous improvements that come with using genuine Office. If Office is not genuine, OGA Notifications will provide periodic reminders to help you take the appropriate action. It's part of Microsoft's commitment to fight piracy and to protect customers and partners from counterfeit software. Learn more about OGA Notifications.
An OEM, short for Original Equipment Manufacturer, is a large computer manufacturer.
Microsoft® values your privacy and does not use information collected during activation and validation to identify you or contact you. Read the Genuine Microsoft Software Privacy Statement.
Software piracy is the unauthorized copying or distribution of copyrighted software, which can be done by copying, downloading, sharing, selling, or installing non-genuine copies onto personal or work computers.
Piracy prevention features are parts of Microsoft® products that are designed to be difficult for counterfeiters to reproduce. Certificates of Authenticity, proof of license labels, and edge-to-edge CD or DVD holograms are examples of some of the piracy prevention features that Microsoft products may contain.
Plugins for Mozilla® Firefox® help your browser perform specific functions like viewing special graphic formats or playing multimedia files. They can enhance your browsing experience by allowing animation or they can help with tasks such as validating your genuine Microsoft® software.
A product key is a unique combination of numbers and letters that is used during Microsoft® software installation to "unlock" or open the product. Microsoft product keys contain 25 characters that are divided into groups of 5. The product key is typically located on an orange or yellow sticker on the back of the CD case or the DVD case. If the Windows® operating system that you are using was preinstalled by your computer manufacturer, you may find the Windows product key sticker on the computer. Make sure to store the product key together with the product CD or DVD in a safe location in case you have to reinstall the product in the future. The product cannot be reinstalled without both the product key and the CD or DVD. Product keys are specific to their software products. For example, you cannot use a Windows product key to unlock a Microsoft Office® product. Learn more about how to identify and locate your product key. Some product keys can only be used to activate and use software products licensed under a specific Volume Licensing program. More information about product keys specific to volume licensing programs can be found here.
The Microsoft® proof of license label is the orange label, accompanying the installation disc, which contains a 25-character product key. The words "Proof of License" appear on the label. The proof of license label cannot be purchased separately.
When Windows Vista® (pre-Service Pack 1, or SP1) is not activated within the grace period, it will enter reduced functionality mode (RFM). In this mode, there is no start menu, no desktop icons, and the desktop background is changed to black. The web browser will function and Internet connectivity will not be blocked. Every 60 minutes, the system will log you out without warning. However, the system will not be shut down, and you can log back in right away. Even with reduced functionality, you will have full access to personal data stored on your computer. If you have a computer that is running Windows Vista pre-SP1, learn more about downloading and installing updates.
A software reseller is a business or organization that purchases products from software manufacturers, such as Microsoft®, and then sells software to the general public. Customers usually buy software from resellers by visiting a local store location or shopping online.
Software Asset Management (SAM) involves managing and optimizing the purchase, deployment, maintenance, utilization, and disposal of software applications within an organization. SAM practices help to manage risk from counterfeit as well as improperly licensed software. Learn more about Microsoft® SAM.
System builders are small computer manufacturers.
Validation is an online process that allows you to verify that your copy of Windows® or Office® is genuine. Microsoft® will ask you to validate when requesting a genuine Windows or Office download from the Microsoft Download Center or Windows Update. Learn more about validation.
The Validation Advisor is available from the validation results page to users of Windows® XP whose PCs failed validation. The Validation Advisor can help determine whether the Windows product key installed on a PC matches the original Windows product key that was purchased, to learn the most likely reasons that the PC failed validation, and provide customized recommendations for resolution. Learn more about validation.
Software acquired through Microsoft Volume Licensing is a software license only. A software license provides the right to run a Microsoft software product. Depending on the Volume Licensing program, you may receive media, and you have the option to acquire media (or supplemental media), documentation, and product support separately via download or physical media as needed. Retail purchases usually come in a box and contain media (such as CDs or a DVD), a product key, documentation, and Microsoft Software License Terms, which dictate how the software may and may not be used. Acquiring software licenses through Microsoft® Volume Licensing is different than acquiring retail boxed software licenses. Learn more about Microsoft Volume Licensing.
Windows Activation Technologies are a set of anti-piracy features in Windows Vista® and Windows 7® containing activation and validation components. These technologies help users confirm that Windows installed on their PC is genuine and help protect against the risks of counterfeit software. Updates for Windows Activation Technologies may also be released by Microsoft® from time to time to help protect users from new threats or exploits. These technologies are part of Microsoft’s commitment to protecting its customers and partners from counterfeiters through education, engineering, and enforcement of policies and laws. Windows Activation Technologies differentiates the value of genuine Windows software from counterfeit software, allowing customers to enjoy the capabilities they expect, the confidence that their software is authentic, and the ongoing system improvements that help them get the most from their software investment.
WGA Notifications for Windows XP® helps Microsoft® to fight software piracy and helps you to validate that the copy of Microsoft Windows XP running on your PC is genuine and properly licensed. If Windows XP installed on your computer did not pass validation, WGA Notifications provides resources that help you to easily fix the problem online. Get more information about WGA Notifications.
You can use Windows Update to automatically update your PC, install optional drivers and software, or opt into Microsoft Update with just a few clicks. Visit Windows Update now to view available updates.
